IRS Proposes Updates to Highway Vehicle Excise Tax Rules

The IRS on March 31 issued proposed regulations intended to update highway vehicle excise tax rules in light of legislative changes and court decisions in recent years. Specifically, the regulations relate to excise taxes imposed on the sale of highway tractors, trailers, trucks, and tires, as well as the use of heavy vehicles on highways. The proposed rules provide examples and identify exceptions to the definition for purposes of the tax on sale of heavy vehicles, the highway use tax, and the credits and payments allowed for certain nontaxable uses. The proposed regulation defines a highway vehicle as “any self-propelled vehicle, or any truck trailer or semitrailer, designed to perform a function of transporting a load over public highways.” Click here to access the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.